Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin

Chapter 10 details the aftermath of World War II, focusing on the ethnic cleansing and population transfers that reshaped Central and Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, under Stalin’s directives. Stalin envisioned a post-war landscape where nations were ethnically homogeneous, aiming for a communist Poland purged of its national minorities, especially Germans. This chapter outlines the geopolitical maneuvers, agreements at Yalta and Potsdam, and the brutal reality of these population movements, highlighting the significant role of ethnic purity in Stalin’s vision for the region.

As the Red Army advanced towards Germany, Stalin’s plans for Poland became evident—it would be shifted westwards, incorporating German territories up to the Oder and Lusatian Neisse Rivers, displacing millions of Germans in the process. This realignment was not just about gaining territory but about creating ethnically homogenous states as buffers and allies against future German aggression. The Allies, particularly Roosevelt and Churchill, acquiesced to Stalin’s demands, leading to the forced migration of millions and the establishment of communist regimes across Eastern Europe.

The expulsion of Germans from Poland and other territories was massive, involving more than 10 million people, making it one of the largest forced migrations in history. This movement was rationalized by the Allies and Soviet Union as a necessary measure for peace and stability post-war, despite the immense human suffering it caused, including death, rape, and loss of livelihood for millions.